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Cespedes could be taking turn to left

Cespedes could be taking turn to left

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Yoenis Cespedes

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Yoenis Cespedes may be headed for a new role with the A's upon his expected return from the disabled list this weekend.

A's assistant general manager David Forst and manager Bob Melvin both acknowledged on Tuesday that they are considering keeping Coco Crisp in center field and shifting Cespedes to left field when he rejoins the team.

"I think, at this point, we're keeping our options open," Melvin said. "We'll see how he does there. He has played corners before. We'll just see how it goes. We haven't made any decisions on it yet. We'll go on the reports and do whatever we feel, as an organization, is best suited for where they should be.

"I don't think it's any secret that Coco feels more comfortable in center. We're just trying to get better and, if we feel like we're all the way around defensively better with that mix, it's certainly something we'll try."

Cespedes, who was slated to play in his second rehab game with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, has experience in left field and was considered a strong option to start there at the beginning of the season, before the A's decided to keep him in center field, in an effort to make his transition to the big leagues easier.

But the unflappable Cespedes has showcased impressive makeup in his brief time with the A's. And Crisp, whose below-average arm limits his abilities in left field, is struggling at the plate at the moment.

"We wanted to make [Cespedes] as comfortable as we could," Melvin said. "Based on the fact that he played most of his games in center field, we felt that was the right thing to do at the time.

"Now, getting to know him and who he is, are there little intricate things that bother him? No. He just wants to go out there and play. Everything's kind of a work in progress with guys you don't know, and you're constantly feeling out things to see what the best mix could be."

Added Forst: "With the mix of outfielders that we have and the roster that we have, it's easier on Bob if everyone can do a couple of things. It's nothing beyond wanting to keep our options open, as far as the roster construction is concerned."